Does fluoridated water prevent tooth decay?

Yes, research proves drinking fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by about 25 percent over a lifetime.

As community water fluoridation increased in the U.S. between 1966 and 1994, the average number of decayed, filled or missing teeth among 12-yearolds fell 68 percent

Evidence supporting fluoridated water’s effectiveness has been building for almost 70 years, even during an era with widespread availability of fluoride from other sources, such as fluoridated toothpaste.